Ndidi, Iheanacho star as Leicester draw with Swansea

But when that deal didn't go through, it looked as though Pep Guardiola would just have to plod on with the vast array of attacking talent available to him.

Manchester City withdrew their interest, so the Algerian will remain with Leicester until at least the end of the season.

Chelsea have an option which means they can match any offer received for Hazard, negotiated when they sold Eden's younger brother to the German side, and that's presented as a possibility.

And so to the take-it-or-leave-it ultimatum that Leicester offered Man City. 'I hope for Riyad he can clear his head and he can come back with us because he's a valuable player for us, crucial in our play.

Players naturally want to progress and achieve on the bigger stage, and Mahrez, after serving Leicester for so long and with such distinction, ought to surely to have be given the opportunity to test himself elsewhere.

Here are the best reactions from the Leicester supporters.

"I don't think City would have been anywhere near a player like that had Leroy Sané not got injured", sport finance specialist Dan Plumley told Omnisport.

"It's for him, his agent and the club to deal with, but we would welcome him back".

Man City had decided, having spend nearly £60m on a French U21 global centre-back, had decided that a Premier League victor and Ballon d'Or nominee was not worth £20m more than that. I am sure he can come back with the same feeling.

In the English top-flight, Coutinho has scored 41 goals in 152 appearances, good for a goal every 3.7 games.

The Foxes have no intention of selling on the cheap, and it is understood they have valued the wide man in excess of £100m - and rightly so. He is an important player for us, of course.

Welsh global Andy King believes that his time as a Leicester City player is coming to an end. In other news, captain Wes Morgan remains out with a hamstring injury whilst there could be a first league start for January signing Fousseni Diabate, who could replace Mahrez in the starting XI.